St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1887-06-04

of Sioux or Cheyenne blood. NWl
Liscomb, knowing that these / ~
Indians must be out of cart =.
ridges for their Winchester
rifles, resolved to load two pack animals
with ammunition and drive them into the
Yellowstone valley, and there find the
hostile Sioux and make trade which
would be highly profitable to him. He
| loaded his horses at BoZeman and crossed
the Belt mountains. Below him lay the
almost unknown valley of the Yellow
| stone He rode down it, and while passing
| through the low country he met an old
trading comrade, who persuaded him to
leave his cargo at his house until he had
| found the Sioux and arranged for trade.
He stopped with this comrade one night.
Next morning early he saddled his horse
and rode down the valley. Presently
approached him. This brave was un-
armed He carried whip, the handle of
which was the heavy oak spoke of a
freight wagon wheel. Side by side they
rode talking pleasantly, Liscomb being
ever watchful of his visitor. When they
were about five miles from his friends
house, the Indian pointed to some dark
objects lying on hillside about half
mile distant, and said sweetly, as he
pointed with outstretched arm: Look
at the antelope" As he spoke he slightly
checked his horse Liscomb looked in
the indicated direction, saw that he had
got ahead of his visitor, and instantly
realized his mistake He threw himself
forward in his saddle, damned his spurs
into his horses TANKS and heard the
heavy club-like whip whiz by his head
and strike his horse. By this time he
had his revolver in his hand and he
turned in his saddle and shot the Indian
dead
The antelope lying on the hillside
sprang up. They were thirteen Sioux
warriors. Their horses rose out of the
grass. They mounted and charged on
Liscomb He was directly on the river |
bank He instantly saw that he could |
not escape. He placed his revolver to
his horses head and blew out its brains. I
Then lying down behind the quivering
body he opened fire on his enemies with |
a Winchester rifle. He was dead shot
and quick one, and he was fighting for
his life. He told me that he was never
cooler He emptied saddle after saddle
as the Indians approached him. He
no nj, arI fnroa1 +bo |
warriors to ride in a circle, firing as they
galloped Presently rifle ball crashed
through the lower bones of his right leg
He gritted his teeth and continued to fire
Soon but three warriors were left to fight.
They were crazy with rage and mortif-
cation. They jumped from their horses
and sank into the grass, which then grew
tall in the Yellowstone valley, and tried
10 crawl on Liscomb, firing steadily as
hey approached. A ball crashed through
his left fore arm, splintering the bones.
His horse was now stiff, and he gritted
MS teeth tighter as he rested his rifle
barrel on his wounded arm, which lay
IN his dead horse, SO as to get sufficient
height to see his enemies. He killed
Wo of them. He was faint and al
most gone when he saw a painted
luu HeEct-fiSdSeu savage LII tHe
,rass, and distant forty yards. Liscomb
remembered to have seen the painted
ace, and gaunt body, and the elevated
eet of the Indian He nerved himself
or his last shot. He covered the crawl
ng figure dimly, as though he were shoot
ng in a dream. He saw the Indians rifle
ONE to his shoulder. He pulled his
rigger, saw the right foot Of the Indian
ERIK, knew that he had hit him and
ainted The Indians bullet, fired at the
anne instant, struck Liscomb above the
eft eye glancingly and smashed hole in
lis outer skull. That was what put him
0 sleep He lay unconscious until dark.
He aWoke to find himself physically
wreck He craWled to the river to drink
efore he died. The water revived him
He lay on the bank think
ng of the fight and his wounds, gaining
trength and courage every minute.
'inally he sat up and examined his broken
e and arm, and felt with inquiringA1
myers of his head and then he said. FL i